Chapter 7
6 Months ago
Thursday night found Jude sitting on her bed, looking through her journal. Her Dad had come home the day before, so she couldn't stay at Tommy's. It was the first night she wasn't with him and she was already going through symptoms of withdrawal. Her phone rang and she quickly answered it, seeing his face flashing on the screen.
"Hey girl."
"Hey... I miss you."
"I miss you too. That's why you should come out back."
A big grin lit her face as she quickly stood up and snapped her phone shut. Jude tried to be as quiet as possible as she made her way down the stairs and out the back door. She walked into yard, her eyes searching for him, but not seeing anything in the inky darkness. She felt his arms wrap around her from behind, making her jump.
"I've got something for you. " He said softly, into her hair. He held his hand out in front of her, a small dark velvet box in his fingers. He snapped it open with one motion to reveal a large diamond ring and matching band. She turned around to look at him, eyes huge, speechless. "I want to do it right this time. Jude, will you marry me?" She just nodded, still unable to form words. He took her hand and slipped the engagement ring on to her finger. She looked down at the beautiful Asscher cut diamond.
"I love it." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, losing herself in the feel of his lips pressed against hers.
"Did your Dad sign those forms?" She nodded. Tommy gave a sigh in relief.
"Meet me at the apartment at 5 okay?"
"A.M.?" He chuckled.
"Yes A.M. Our flight leaves at 7."
"Flight? Where are we going?" She looked up at him excitedly.
"Somewhere warm. Pack for the weekend okay?"
"Um.. How am I going to explain my disappearance?"
"Leave Sadie and your Dad a note telling them you need some time alone, since you're so devastated over my leaving." Jude had to giggle, even though it was something she rarely did. He drew her close and kissed her forehead.
"I guess I could say I was going to the farmhouse." He looked into her eyes.
"You really want to do this?" He said seriously brushing the hair from her cheek.
"Do you?" She said still a little unsure.
"I want you... forever." She smiled at him.
"Then yes I'm sure."
Jude's Birthday (afternoon)
Jude was having one final fitting for the dress for her party. She had stripped down to her strapless bra and panties when she noticed Portia's gaze riveted on her chest.
"What?" Jude said self consciously.
"New boyfriend you want to tell me about?" Portia said teasingly. Jude looked down and noticed the love bite, on the swell of one breast. Her cheeks grew warm. She wanted to kill Tommy, but realized she had given him a similar one on his shoulder.
"Um.. No boyfriend..." Just your ex-husband?! Jude slipped on her dress in front of the mirror, hoping Tommy would like it as she turned from one angle to another. Portia was looking down adjusting the lines of it, when she asked the question that made Jude freeze.
"So did you hear Tommy's back in town?" Jude didn't know what to say, she hadn't planned on having this conversation with Tommy's ex. Portia finally looked up at Jude's silence. Her eyes caught Jude's worried ones in the mirror and realization dawned as she looked at the spot of where Jude's hickey was underneath her dress. Jude turned around.
"He never left." She said softly.
"But you just said no boyfriend...?"
"He's not..."
"Jude don't fall for it. Tommy's got a line for everything. Whatever he promised you..."
"Portia." Jude tried to interrupt, but the other woman just kept speaking.
"Tommy Q's not good at commitment. He's going to break your heart." Like he broke mine. "You're better than this Jude. All Tommy cares about is himself. He's not going to..."
"We got married." That stopped Portia in mid-rant. Jude looked down at the tips of her heels peeking out from the hem of her gown. "6 months ago." She looked up to see the other woman staring at her.
Sadie popped her head in the doorway, finally breaking the uncomfortable silence. She was too absorbed in her own thoughts to notice the tension.
"Jude can I talk to you?"
"Are we done here?" Jude asked Portia, who nodded, but still didn't say anything. Jude changed back into her clothes quickly and handed the dress to Portia. Jude and Sadie headed for the empty conference room. Jude bit her lower lip, apprehension apparent in her eyes.
"Jude stop looking at me like that. I'm not going to hit you." Sadie rolled her eyes and Jude gave a small smile. "I just wanted to tell you, no matter what you're still my sister. I'm not going to let a guy get between us. It's way too cliché." Jude nodded, her heart feeling a little lighter.
"Thanks Sades."
"I didn't mean to go all silent on you. I guess it hurt that you kept this from me for so long..."
"Sadie I didn't want to, but we couldn't risk you telling Dad." Sadie held her hand up.
"Let me get the rest of this out. I won't lie. It took me a long time to get over Tommy. I wondered if he ever thought about me or if he was already happy with someone else. But when you told me what you did last night, I started to see things that happened before, differently. I wanted Little Tommy Q from Boyz Attack, but he was never that for you was he?" Jude shook her head. "Kwest and I talked last night. He told me how Tommy acted on your 16th birthday." Jude blushed, hoping Tommy had never told Kwest about the kiss. "He never looked at me the way he looks at you." Sadie said softly, maybe a little sadly.
"Sadie I'm sorry." Sadie shook her head.
"He was always in love with you. I see that now. But God, you're so young...My little sister is married!" Jude shrugged.
"I couldn't let him go Sadie." Jude went on to explain, minus the intimate details, why he had to leave G-Major and her reaction to his news.
"I guess if anyone can, Tommy Q would be the one to, turn you into a nympho."
"Sadie!" Jude's cheeks had turned a bright red.
